The South Sydney Rabbitohs season has come to an end with a shock loss on the opening night of the NRL finals to the Newcastle Knights, and head coach Wayne Bennett has implored the game to get rid of the bunker.
On what was a controversial night, there were numerous moments that appeared to go against the Rabbitohs, who had finished sixth on the table and earnt hosting rights to clash with the undermanned Knights.
Bennett, speaking post-game, said there were two key moments he took issue with, and while he wouldn't comment on the state of the decisions, he revealed it was tough to know whether the referee or bunker is in charge of the game, and suggested the rule book has become too technical.
The first of those was a decision where the ball was seemingly knocked out of Alex Johnston's hands, only to be ruled a knock on against the Rabbitohs, while the second was a try to the Knights where Dominic Young's foot was exceptionally close to the sideline.
"Well, the quicker they get rid of the bunker, the happier I'll be," Bennett said during his post-match press conference.
"I saw the same thing happen last year with Canberra late in the game there and it happened again tonight.
"I think anyone that plays rugby league or knows rugby league knows that [was knocked out of his hands]. The ball was knocked out of his [ hands.
"The referee awards a try, then the bunker comes in and says no try.
"Then about ten minutes later, Newcastle winger Dom Young goes down the sideline there. I'm not sure whether he put his foot on the line or not.
"The bottom line is, the bunker comes back and says we are going with the referees call.
"I want to know who is refereeing the game. Is it the bunker, or the referee? In the case of Alex Johnston one, he awards the try, and as I said, you can look at that 50 times and everyone can come up with a different opinion.
"It's just too technical."
Bennett said the game has gone to a place he doesn't want it to be, and suggested the NRL needs to go back to trusting teir on-field referees, with more decisions likely to influence the finals over the coming weeks.
"As I said, it's not what I want the game to be personally. I've been in it a long time, seen a lot of things and I don't think the bunker enhances our game to the amount people believe it does," Bennett added.
"I'm happy with referees call. Always have been, always will be. None of us are getting it right. The bunker isn't either.
"The bunker for me was supposed to be 100 per cent foolproof, and it's not. It's going to happen through the playoffs, it won't stop here tonight. There will be more instances, I can promise you.
"I have been [critical of the bunker] for a couple of years because I'm over the decisions they make and the impact it has on teams.
"The ref, I know is doing his job properly, best he can. He makes a mistake, I can live with that. My players make mistakes. I can live with that.
"What I can't live with this is this thing called the bunker that is supposed to be 100 per cent perfect, and it's not perfect because we have got other officials running it.
"As I said, one's a try because the referee says it's a try, and the other's not because the bunker says it's not try. I want to know who is running the game."
Bennett was then quizzed on an incident during the first half where Dane Gagai appeared to go at Latrell Mitchell with a closed fist, only to stay on the field, and for the Knights to receive the penalty.
Bennett started disagreeing with the decision, only to turn his attention towards the amount of time decisions were taking to make.
"Well, there is another one for you," Bennett said of the Gagai incident.
"The other thing we kind of gloss over is the amount of time some of these things are taking in the game, and the attrition of the game doesn't these guys are getting three and four mintues rest while we are all having a discussion and arguing about who has done what and what has happened here.
"That just refuels these guys and so you don't get the fatigue factor in the game that we should be.
"People want to see the game, they don't come to see discussion and argument from the bunker and referee."
The bunker has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons for much of the season, with decision making consistency seemingly at an all-time low.
The Knights will now take on the loser of the Dolphins and Warriors qualifying final, to be played on Saturday in Auckland.
